Clinical Evaluation

Supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and the Huntington's Disease Society of America (HDSA), this program was founded in 1980 to provide services to individuals with Huntington's disease (HD). Diagnostic evaluations are conducted patients with Huntington's disease and related disorders. Patient may be referred by area neurologists or other physicians, or they may be self-referred. The evaluation clinic is held every Tuesday from 1-4 pm in Meyer 2-181 at The Johns Hopkins Hospital.

During the evaluation clinic, a detailed family and medical history will be obtained and a neurological and psychiatric examination will be conducted. Our extensive knowledge of families with HD in the mid-Atlantic area allows us to determine if an individual can be linked to an existing HD family of if they come from a new family. If individuals are already showing signs and symptoms of HD, genetic testing for HD and related disorders can be done on a diagnostic basis. All these services are provided with support of an National Institute of Health (NIH) research grant. A social work evaluation is also provided as part of the clinic session.

Patients are required to have a primary care physician in the community for non-Huntington's related medical care. Members of the Center interdisciplinary team may see patients for further consultation and follow-up as appropriate.

Services are provided:

Diagnostic evaluations

Symptomatic genetic testing

Consultations

Follow-up care

Case management

Individual and family counseling

Referrals to occupational or phsycial therapy or other medical evaluations